אדריכלות ישראלית

Architecture of Israel #

115

November

2018

so architecture

page

english readers

The ambition to get far is apparently a tested

method of going far.

The office was established in 2007 after

the partners had already gained practical

experience, won several competitions and

prizes.

Yet, since they had to comply with internship

regulations, they had to wait before engaging

in high gear.

Success came soon due to the special

integration of Shahar’s technological approach

and commitment to details and Oded’s

conceptual vision – which apparently stream

positive energy into the beautiful profession,

deprived of any pleasure due to real-estate,

lobbying and clerical implementation.

After several years of designing anything that

came up, the office is preoccupied today with

educational compounds, commercial, industrial

and office buildings, interior design, urban

planning, and private houses – which they still

manage to imbue with fresh innovations.

In2012, theofficewon the design competition for

the Jerusalem Nature Museum, in collaboration

with Schwartz Besnosoff Architects, who were

appointed to take care of the building due to

their richer experience.

“The main lesson we have learned was: Not

to fear mistakes, respect the opinions of

others, learn from them, and, primarily – work

with good people who allow small tactical

steps to establish a large strategy. The local

architecture is not perfect – there is a lot to

aspire to, but we are optimistic and believe that

just like in previous generations, there are still

opportunities to express talent.

profile

so architecture

shachar lulav, oded rozenkier

Rachel Ben Aharon

Run by Architects’ Oded Rozenkier from Kfar Masaryk and Shachar Lulav from Shimshit,

So Architecture is one of the most interesting, creative contemporary firms in the local

milieu. Numbering today about 17 planners, the office has primarily developed from winning

competitions. The two who first got acquainted as competition participants, became friends,

turned into a partners who also share a way of life. As young architects taking their first

steps, the two adopted the model of international figures who became stars overnight after

winning a competition – the Dutch group MVRDV, the Danish archi-star Bjarke Ingels, the

Portuguese Eduardo Souto de Moura, and the Catalan Architects’ Office RCR, owned by

Rafael Aranda, Carme Pigem and Ramon Vilalta – all decorated with prestigious prizes and

regularly invited to international competitions.